A solar farm (not in the Virgin Islands). The BVI Electricity Corporation was expecting to have Anegada Hybrid Renewable Energy and Battery Storage System Project completed no later than January 2021. Photo: CITE

BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) General Manager Mr Leroy A.E. Abraham had stated in December 2019 that the Anegada Hybrid Renewable Energy and Battery Storage System Project would be up and running by the end of December 2020 or no later than early January 2021. It is unclear; however, if the coronavirus pandemic may cause any delay to the project. Photo: VINO

This announcement was made by the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) today, Tuesday, March 31, 2020 via a press release.

“The BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) is pleased to advise the public that following the successful site visit completed on December 11, 2019 for the Anegada Hybrid Renewable Energy and Battery Storage System Project, it has received on February 24^th 2020 EPC (Engineer, Procure and Construct) prices from five (5) bidders."

BVIEC said the companies who submitted bids and their main characteristics for the project are Advanced Solar Products, MAN-HEG, Power52, Tugliq and Virtual Engineers.

The combined Project capacity will be 2.1 MWdc, with 1.2 MWdc of solar PV and 930 kW-4h BESS.

The Project includes the installation of a Micro-Grid Master Controller which will control the PV, Battery Storage System (BESS) and a backup diesel generator which is currently the sole source of electricity for Anegada.

See table below:

Bids being evaluated

BVIEC said it is now in the process of evaluating the bids.

“The BVI Electricity Corporation, along with its renewable energy consultant DNV GL, have commenced the exercise of thoroughly evaluating the bids received in terms of adherence to the bid specifications issued in the Request For Proposal (RFP), completeness, quality, etc.”

Anegada, with a population of around 300, is not connected to the BVIEC’s parent grid located on the main island of Tortola. This factor results in the cost for producing electricity on Anegada being much higher.

“This is a necessary move. As part of our strategy going forward is to diversify energy production, utilising a lot more renewables,” BVIEC General Manager Mr Leroy A.E. Abraham had stated in December.

Mr Abraham had also expressed optimism that the Anegada Hybrid Renewable Energy and Battery Storage System Project would be up and running by the end of December 2020 or no later than early January 2021. It remains to be seen; however, whether the coronavirus pandemic will affect the timeline for the delivery of the project.